Light fixture



April 26, 1966 P. J. DOCIMO ETAL 3,248,537

LIGHT FIXTURE Filed Sept. 13, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS PETE J. DOC/M0 Y JEROME HFE/G ATTORNEY April 11966 P. .1. DOCIMO ETAL 3,248,537

LIGHT FIXTURE Filed Sept. 13, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS PETER J. DOC/MO JEROME H. EE/G Mag/41M ATTORNEY Unitcd States Patent 3,248,537 HGT-1T FIXTURE Peter I. Docirno, Tarzana, and Jerome H. Feig, Beverly Hills, Califi, assignors to Marvin Electric Mfg. Co., lLos Angeles, Calif., a corporation of California Filled Sept. 13, 1963, Ser. No. 388,720 6 Claims. (Cl. 240-146) This invention relates to a light fixture, and more particularly, to a. light fixture which may be either flush mounted or recess mounted on a ceiling or other supporting surface.

The light fixture of the present invention is directed to a lamp carrying member and a bezel structurally interrelated by way of a diffuser holding means. Such structural interrelationship facilitates reciprocation by the bezel with respect to the lamp carrying member whereby electric bulbs may be readily replaced and whereby the components may be readily assembled during installation.

The provision of a diffuser holding means for structurally interrelating the lamp carrying member and the bezel has been proposed heretofore. For example, see US. Patent 2,701,299. In that patent, the diff-user holding means is structurally interrelated in a manner which results in several disadvantages. Thus, the structure in said patent has resulted in injury to the fingers of the worker installing the fixture, the worker must compress spring-biased fingers and cause the fingers to enter holes which are not visible to the worker, usage over a substantial period of time has resulted in the bezel becoming separated from the lamp carrying member due to the lack of positive locking structure, and the worker instal- .ling the structure in said patent must physically support the bezel While using each of his hands to compress the spring-biased fingers.

These disadvantages are overcome by the present invention while at the same time eliminating manufacturing steps and components resulting in a light fixture which is simpler, cheaper, easier to install and use, and more reliable during usage.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel light fixture.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a light fixture wherein a lamp carrying member and a bezel are structurally interrelated by means of a diffuser holding means which is easier to install and provides more reliable service during usage.

It is another object of the present invention to provide alight fixture wherein the diffuser holding means is also capable of supporting the weight of the bezel and light diffusing member thereby freeing both hands of the worker for manipulation of spring-biased fingers.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a light fixture which is structurally interrelated in a manner to render the same simpler, more inexpensive, and easier to install than those proposed heretofore.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

For the purpose ofillustrating the invention, there are .shown in the drawings forms which .are presently preferred; it being understood, however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.

FIGURE 1 is an exploded perspective view of a recessed light fixture in accordance with the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation view taken along the line 2-2 in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 2, but illustrating the components in their closed disposition.

FIGURE 4 is a view taken along the line 44 in FIG- URE 2.

FIGURE 5 is a view taken along the line 55 in FIG- URE 2.

FIGURE 6 is an exploded perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention wherein the light fixture is a flush mounted fixture.

FIGURE 7 is a view taken along the line 7-7 in FIG- URE 6.

FIGURE 8 is a view similar to FIGURE 7 but showing the components in a closed disposition.

FIGURE 9 is a view taken along the line 9-9 in FIG- URE 7.

FIGURE 10 is a view taken along the line 101tl in FIGURE 6.

Referring to the drawing in detail, wherein like numerals indicate like elements, there is shown in FIGURE 1 a light fixture designated generally as 10.

The light fixture 1t) is-a type which is adapted to be mounted within a recess or the like. Fixture 18 includes a housing or lamp carrying member 12 having a bezel 14 which is adapted to be flush with the ceiling or other supporting surface.

The bezel 14 includes angle plate members v16, 18, 20 and 22 fixedly secured thereto and spaced radially out- Wardly from the inner peripheral surface of the bezel 14. The bezel 14 has a centrally disposed aperture over which lies a light diffusing member 24. The periphery of member 24 is supported by the inner periphery of the bezel 14- as shown more clearly in FIGURE 5.

The housing 12 is provided with walls forming a rectangle which is larger than the rectangle formed by the upstanding portion of the members 16, 18, 20 and 22. Thus, the last-mentioned upstanding portions are adapted to enter into the housing 12 in the assembled disposition of the housing bezel. Housing 12 includes oppositely disposed side walls 26 and 28.

Each of the walls 2s and 28 are structurally interrelated with the bezel 14 by means of a diffuser holding means 36. Since each of the diffuser holding means 36 are identical, only one such means and its structural interrelationship with a side wall of housing 12 and the bezel 14 will be described in detail. Corresponding elements are provided with corresponding primed numerals.

A bracket member 30 having an inwardly extending flange portion is secured to the side wall 28 in any convenient manner. The inwardly extending portion is provided with spaced notches 3 2 and 34. The diffuser holding means 36 includes a torsion spring 38 having legs 40 and 42 and a U-shaped loop portion 41. As illustrated more clearly in FIGURE 3, the loop portion 41 is shorter in length than the legs 48 and 42. In the closed disposition of the bezel with respect to the housing 12,

.ber 20 by means of a rivet 44. If desired, the torsion spring 38 may be coupled to the member20= as set forth in our copending application Serial No. 308,719, filed on Sept.- 13, 1963 and entitled Light Fixture.

When assembling the bezel 14 to the housing 12, the worker will first couple the loop portion 41 of each diffuser holding means 36 to its respective lug 43. Thereafter, the housing 12 will support the weight of the bezel 14 and the light diffusing member 24. Thus, the workers bands will be free to compress'the legs 40 and 42 until they snap into the notches 32 and 34, re-

spectively. It has been found to be diflicult for workers to manipulate the spring-biased legs in the above-mentioned patent while at the same time supporting the weight of the bezel. This disadvantage of the prior art is overcome by the present invention, while at the same time providing structure which limits the extent to which the bezel may be moved away from the lamp carrying member. Thus, the diffuser holding means 36 does not rely on the terminal portions of the legs 40 and 42 to act as limit stops.

When it is desired to have access to the interior of the housing 12 for maintenance or replacing a burned out bulb, one need only pull down on the bezel 14 thereby causing the legs 40 and 42 to move towards each other until the bight portion of loop portion 41 contacts the lug 43. At this point, the components of the present invention assume the disposition illustrated in FIGURE 2. When the bezel 14 is in the open disposition as illustrated in FIGURE 2, it may be rotated through a limited angle about an axis extending through the longitudinal axes of the rivets 44 thereby increasing the space through which ones hand may extend to replace a bulb or perform any maintenance function.

In FIGURES 6-10, there is illustrated another embodiment of the present invention wherein the light fixture is a surface mounted fixture designated generally as Fixture 10' includes a tray or lamp carrying member 52 structurally interrelated with a bezel designated generally as 68 by diffuser holding means 66. Diffuser holding means 66 is perfectly identical with the diffuser holding means 36 and, therefore, need not be described in detail. I

The tray or lamp carrying member 52 may be a flat sheet of metal or the like having upstanding peripheral flanges 54, 56, 58 and 60. Tray 52 is provided with an aperture 62 adjacent flange 54 and an aperture 64 adjacent flange 58. A portion of each diffuser holding means 66 extends through the apertures so that the torsion spring is above the tray 52 for facilitating coupling of the torsion springs to one of the flanges 54- and 58 by means of a rivet or struck-out portion as described above.

The bezel 68 is provided with side walls 70, 72, 74 and 76. As shown more clearly in FIGURE 10, each of the side walls is provided at its upper edge with a turned-over portion which terminates in an inwardly directed flange. Thus, side wall 70 is provided at its upper edge with a portion turned back on itself and an inwardly extending flange 78. Side wall 74 is similarly provided with a flange 80. The flanges 78 and 80 are provided with notches which cooperate with the legs of the diffuser holding means in the same manner as notches 32 and 34 cooperate with the diffuser holding means 36.

Each of the side walls of the bezel 68 are provided at their lower edge with an inturned flange. Thus, wall 70 is provided with a flange 82 as shown more clearly in FIGURE 10. The flanges at the lower edge of each of the walls of the bezel 68 provide a supporting surface for a light diffuser member 84. In view of the illustration of flange 82 in FIGURE 10 and flange 86 in FIG- URE 9, it is not deemed necessary to illustrate the corresponding flanges on side walls 72 and 76.

The bezel 68 may be formed from an elongated member having a length corresponding to the combined lengths of the walls 70, 72, 74 and 76. Thereafter, the strip may be bent to form a rectangular bezel as illustrated with means being provided at one of the corners to facilitate joining the free ends in any convenient manner well-known to those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains. It will be noted that the flanges such as flange 80 are cut away at their ends so as not to be integral with the corresponding flange on the other side walls. Thus, flange 86 is provided with a cut 88. A similar cut should be provided in the flanges such as flange 82. These cuts are preferably at a 45 angle with respect to the leading edge of the flanges so that they mate with cooperating flanges on the other side walls.

The fixture 10 is utilized in the same manner as described above and has the same advantages set forth above in respect to fixture 10. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the housing 12 and tray 5-2 are the lamp carrying members. It is not deemed necessary for purposes of the present invention to illustrate the wiring and sockets on the lamp carrying members. With a recessed fixture such as that illustrated in FIGURES l-5, the housing 12 is generally provided with an enlarged aperture in one side wall to facilitate the passage of wiring and the like to the sockets supported therein.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and, accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, rather than to the foregoing specification as indicating the scope of the invention.

It is claimed:

1. In a lighting fixture comprising a lamp carrying member, a light diffusing member, means for, supporting and limiting the extent of displacement of said light diffusing member with respect to said lamp carrying member, said means including at least one diffuser holding means concealed from view in the operative position of said members, said diffuser holding means including a pair of resiliently biased legs, and a U-shaped portion between and separate and apart from said legs, the bight of said portion removeably engaging structure on one of said members for limiting the displacement of said light diffusing member with respect to said lamp carrying member.

2. In a lighting fixture comprising a lamp carrying member, a light diffusing member depending therefrom,

means to limit the extent of displacement of said lightv diffusing member, said means including at least one torsion spring mounted on one of said members and having legs concealed in the operative position of the light diffusing member and coacting with the other member for retaining the light diffusing member in operative position, said torsion spring also having a closed loop disposed between said legs for cooperation with a lug on the other member, said lug contacting said bight portion to limit the extent of said displacement, the distance between the bight portion of the loop and the torsion spring being the extent of displacement of said light diffusing member, and aperture means on opposite sides of the lug for receiving said legs.

3. In a lighting fixture in accordance with claim 2 wherein said closed loop, torsion spring and legs are an integral one-piece member.

4. A lighting fixture comprising a lamp carrying member, a bezel member, a first diffuser holding means interconnecting one side of said members to limit the extent of relative displacement of said members, a second diffuser holding means interconnecting an opposite side of said members to limit the extent of relative displacement of saidmembers, each diffuser holding means including a torsion spring having a coiled portion and a pair of spring-biased legs, means extending through the coiled portion of each spring for mounting each torsion spring to one of said members on opposite sides thereof, the legs of each spring removeably engaging the other of said members to retain said members in juxtaposed operative position, and means associated with each torsion spring and disposed between the legs of each spring removeably engaging a lug on the other of said members for limiting the extent to which the members may be separated from each other.

5. In a light fixture comprising a lamp carrying member, a light diffusing member, means for supporting and limiting the extent of displacement of said light diffusing member with respect to said lamp carrying member, said means including at least one diffuser holding means concealed from view in the operative position of said memlbers, said difiuser holding means including a pair of resiliently biased legs and a U-shaped loop portion between and separate and apart from said legs, the bight of said loop portion removeably engaging structure on said lamp carrying member for limiting the displacement of said light difiusing member with respect to said lamp carrying member, and means coupling said diifuser holding means to a bezel support for said light difiusing memher.

6. A lighting fixture comprising a lamp carrying memher, a bezel member, a first diffuser holding means structurally interrelating one of said members to limit the extent of relative displacement of said members, a second difiuser holding means structurally interrelating an opposite side of said members to limit the extent of relative displacement of said members, each diifuser holding means including a torsion spring having a pair of springbiased legs, means mounting each torsion spring to one of said members on opposite sides thereof, the legs of each spring cooperating with the other of said members 20 to retain said members in operative position, means associated with each torsion spring and disposed between the legs of each spring removeably engaging a lug on the other of said members for limiting the extent to which the members may be separated from each other, said last-mentioned means being a U-shaped loop, the distance between the bight of the loop and the respective torsion springs being less than the length of the legs when the members are displaced with respect to each other.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,792,245 5/ 1957 Dasher et al 240-146 X 2,960,361 11/1960 Boutelle 240146 X 2,997,575 8/196-1 Schwartz 240-147 X NORTON ANSI-1BR, Primary Examiner.

C. C. LOGAN, II, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A LIGHTING FIXTURE COMPRISING A LAMP CARRYING MEMBER, A LIGHT DIFFUSING MEMBER, MEANS FOR SUPPORTING AND LIMITING THE EXTENT OF DISPLACEMENT OF SAID LIGHT DIFFUSING MEMBER WITH RESPECT TO SAID LAMP CARRYING MEMBER, SAID MEANS INCLUDING AT LEAST ONE DIFFUSER HOLDING MEANS CONCEALED FROM VIEW IN THE OPERATIVE POSITION OF SAID MEMBERS, SAID DIFFUSER HOLDING MEANS INCLUDING A PAIR OR RESILIENTLY BIASED LEGS, AND A U-SHAPED PORTION BETWEEN AND SEPARATE AND APART FROM SAID LEGS, THE BIGHT OF SAID PORTION REMOVEABLY ENGAGING STRUCTURE ON ONE OF SAID MEMBERS FOR LIMITING THE DISPLACEMENT OF SAID LIGHT DIFFUSING MEMBER WITH RESPECT TO SAID LAMP CARRYING MEMBER. 